Nursery rhyme lyrics
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed Lyrics
The words to Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, with simple actions to do together and a little history for curious grown-ups.
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed full lyrics
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"
Four little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"
Three little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"
Two little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"
One little monkey jumping on the bed,
He fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"Put those monkeys straight to bed!"
Traditional, public domain. Many families sing slightly different versions.
Watch our Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed video
Actions to do together
- Hold up five fingers and bounce them on your palm.
- Take one finger away each time a monkey falls off.
- Hold a pretend phone to your ear for Mama calling the doctor, and wag your finger for the doctor's reply.
What your child learns
- Counting backwards from five
- One less than: taking away one each verse
- Finger control and coordination
Where does Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed come from?
Five Little Monkeys is a traditional fingerplay and counting rhyme, popular in homes, playgroups and kindergartens. Many versions exist, with small changes to the words and the final line.
Questions parents ask
Is Five Little Monkeys a counting song?
Yes. It counts down from five to one, which introduces the idea of taking one away.
Can I change the number of monkeys?
Of course. Start with ten for older children who are ready for bigger numbers.
